Jammu and Kashmir's State Investigation Agency (SIA) on Saturday announced the arrest of an over-ground worker (OGW) of the banned terror group Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, identified as a "sleeper cell."
According to the SIA, Altaf Hussain Wagay, son of Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Wagay from Reban Gund, Behram Shopian, was apprehended as part of the ongoing investigation under FIR No. 01/2025 at Police Station CI/SIA Kashmir. Wagay had been operating under instructions from a terrorist handler based outside India and was involved in planning unlawful activities, spreading anti-India propaganda, and furthering terrorist conspiracies.
The agency stated that Wagay&rsquo;s activities aimed to challenge India&rsquo;s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while also inciting public disorder, communal tension, and disaffection.
SIA termed the arrest a significant step in uncovering sleeper cells in the region. These cells are highly radicalized OGWs who appear as ordinary citizens but carry out tasks assigned by handlers, often connected to Pakistani terrorist organizations or intelligence agencies. Once a mission is completed, they return to normal life, remaining dormant until given further orders.
The arrest highlights ongoing efforts by security forces to identify and neutralize hidden threats in the region. [Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed]

SIA apprehends sleeper cell operative in Kashmir, linked to Pakistani terror handlers

J&K SIA Arrests Hizb-ul-Mujahideen OGW

SIA apprehends sleeper cell operative in Kashmir, linked to Pakistani terror handlers

August 23, 2025 | 21:47 IST